FM station Magic 102.7 fires long-time DJs, hints at format change

Three full-time and six part-time disc jockeys were let go on Monday by FM station Magic 102.7 (WMXJ) as part of a new direction for the station.

Among those let go: Music director Mindy Lang, a 30-year veteran of the station who hosted the 5 a.m.-10 a.m. morning drive time slot; her co-host Vance Phillips; and Joe Johnson, a long-time Magic 102.7 on-air personality and producer who also created and hosted the weekly Beatle Brunch hour, which he launched in 1992 from his home studio in Plantation and has been syndicated nationally by the Westwood One Radio Network since 2000.

Sources at the station say the firings are the beginning of a change in format for the station, which specialized in classic pop from the 1970s and 80s. Magic 102.7 was acquired in July by Entercom Communications Corp. from previous owner Lincoln Financial Media for $105 million as part of a package of 15 stations around the U.S. (including WLYF 101.5 Lite-FM, the alternative music 104.3 FM The Shark and the 790 AM sports station The Ticket).

Pattie Moreno, who joined Magic 102.7 in November as program director, declined to comment on the move. “We had some personnel changes and we’re working on creating something new and exciting for South Florida,” she said via e-mail.

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